How to Clean Soot Off of Walls
Unsightly soot on your walls can turn a cozy fireplace night into a mess. With some simple vacuuming, sponging, washing, and rinsing, you can scrub your walls clean of fireplace soot and ash in no time.
Soot can be caused by running a fireplace regularly, frequently cooking, and burning candles with poor or little ventilation. It is a sticky, fine, black powder that clings to surfaces like walls, fireplace bricks, chimney interiors, and exhaust pipes.
Here's how to clean soot off walls and other surfaces in the home with a bit of time and patience.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Rubber gloves
- Safety glasses
- Protective mask
- Protective clothes
- Drop cloths
- Sturdy step stool or ladder
- Buckets
- Cellulose sponge
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Microfiber cloths
- Vacuum
- Utility knife
Materials
- Dry cleaning or soot sponge
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP) or TSP-PE (phosphate-free)
- Dishwashing liquid with a degreaser
Instructions
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Wear Protective Gear
Before you begin cleaning, wear safety glasses and a mask to protect yourself from the harmful carbon in soot, rubber gloves to protect your hands from harsh chemicals, and old clothing or protective coveralls to prevent stains on your clothes.
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Empty the Room or Cover Furniture and Carpets
As you remove soot from walls and ceilings, some particles will become airborne and settle on upholstered furniture or carpets that can't be easily cleaned.
If possible, empty the room of furniture, accessories, and floor coverings. If not possible, use tarps or drop cloths to protect everything you don't want to become soot-covered.
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Ventilate the Room
Open the windows to provide fresh air. Use circulating fans and turn on venting fans to help draw as many soot particulates out of the room as possible.
Once your cleaning is complete, change filters or clean the fans to remove soot particles.
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Vacuum the Walls
If you have a vacuum with a hose and a dusting brush, you can use it to vacuum away some soot particles. This is a delicate operation because soot can smear.
Start at the top of the wall and hold the vacuum brush at least one-half inch from the wall or ceiling surface to capture loose soot particles and dust. Do not make contact with the wall, or smearing can occur.
Warning
No matter what method you use to remove soot stains, if they are located above your head, always use a sturdy step stool or ladder to reach them. Work slowly and move the ladder frequently to prevent falls.
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Use a Dry Cleaning or Soot Sponge
Specialty sponges for removing soot go by many names: soot sponges, dry cleaning sponges, and chemical sponges. Made of vulcanized rubber, the sponge is highly effective in grabbing and clinging onto soot to lift it from hard surfaces.
The sponge will quickly become black as it absorbs the soot. Once the sponge surface is discolored, move to a clean side of the sponge. You can also use a utility knife to remove a thin sponge layer to expose a fresh surface.
Start with the ceiling, move to the top of the wall, and work your way down. Use straight, parallel strokes that overlap slightly.
Remember to wipe, not scrub. You are working to grab the soot particles, not smear them around. The sponge may not remove all the staining caused by the soot, but it will eliminate the loose particulates.
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Create a Wet Cleaning Solution
If there is residual staining on the wall or ceiling, you must use a wet cleaning method.
Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is the best product for removing soot. While TSP is highly effective, it should always be used sparingly and as a last resort, so only mix up a small batch of what you need after using other methods to remove as much of the soot as possible.
If it is not available in your area, there are similar soot removers that are phosphate-free (TSP-PF). You can also create a mixture of water and a dishwashing liquid that contains a degreaser.
- Trisodium phosphate solution: Mix two quarts of water with one-half cup of powdered trisodium phosphate in a bucket. Stir to mix well.
- TSP-PF solution: Follow product label directions for mixing with water.
- Degreasing dishwashing liquid solution: Mix two quarts of water with two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid in a bucket. Stir to mix well.
Warning
Always wear protective gloves when working with TSP.
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Wash the Ceiling and Walls
Use a regular cellulose cleaning sponge for cleaning. Dip it in the solution and wring so it is not dripping.
Standing on a sturdy ladder, start at the ceiling or top of the wall and work your way down. Rinse and wring the sponge out frequently. Mix a fresh cleaning solution as the water turns black from the soot.
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Rinse and Dry the Surfaces
To ensure that the ceiling and walls are as clean as possible, dip a clean sponge in fresh water. Wring until just damp and wipe down the surfaces.
Finish by drying the ceilings and walls with a lint-free microfiber cloth.
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Remove Protective Materials and Vacuum
Remove the drop cloths and tarps from the room and use a vacuum to clean the floors. Dispose of the vacuum bag carefully or empty the dust cup in a well-ventilated area to prevent the inhalation of the soot particles.
How Often to Clean Soot Off Walls
As a general rule of thumb, cleaning soot off your walls is a good idea when you see it. It's important not to let the soot build-up, which can cause more of an issue (and be more difficult to clean) in the long run.
Tips to Keep Soot of the Walls and Clean Longer
- Keep candles away from the walls and away from drafts. Put them on coffee tables or dining tables instead.
- Use unscented candles instead of scented candles which tend to produce more soot.
- Trim the wicks of a new candle to 1/4 inch, as a candle that burns a steady flame rather than a flickering one produces less soot.
- Ensure your fireplace is vented properly and you perform regular fireplace maintenance.
- Clean out the fireplace ash pile once it exceeds 1 inch. Only leave a small layer of ash.
When to Call a Professional
If you have a small house fire or smoky situation that accumulates noticeable soot, consider hiring a professional house cleaner or remediation expert to come in and clean the walls.
Most small soot issues can be handled on your own, but larger accumulations can be hazardous or unhealthy. Professional cleaners are equipped with all the right cleaning solutions, methods, and equipment and can remediate an issue much faster than a do-it-yourselfer.
Wall cleaners can charge anywhere from $100 to $900, depending on how many rooms you need, how tall your walls are, and the region of the U.S. where you live. According to Angi, the average cost for wall cleaning is about $300.
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What is the best cleaner for black soot on walls?
TSP, or trisodium phosphate, is one of the best cleaners for removing soot from the walls. A little goes a long way. It is a heavy-duty chemical, but you can find a phosphate-free type or use a degreasing dish soap and water mixture as another effective alternative.
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How do you get black smoke residue off walls?
Removing black smoke residue or soot off walls is a several-step process. Start with vacuuming the walls, move on to dry cleaning, then do wet cleaning with a solution.
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Does Magic Eraser remove soot from walls?
Magic Eraser or a melamine sponge works wonders for removing soot from walls. It can be used on walls, cabinets, and ceilings to remove unsightly soot stains.